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I Fell In Love in Bali

One Epic Night in El Nido, Palawan

“Do you dance?” asked the American girl in a bar playing live acoustics. “I don’t dance. Ahhmm maybe when I’m already tipsy.” We were introduced and as usual have to talk through the night with a SMB on my right hand. I got tipsy easily and after I finished my second bottle I found myself dancing with her. The band finished their two sessions and I decided to continue dancing in the next bar- Puca Bar. Other men tried dancing with her but I was pushing them over since I don’t want to share her with others. The dancing didn’t stop until we found ourselves dancing on a rooftop to the tune of T Pain’s 5 O’Clock in the morning. I was leaving for Coron the next morning and she will go back to South Korea in a couple of days. I thought that was the end of it.

Where we met each other- El Nido, Palawan

Until… 11 months later…

Rendezvous in Myanmar

It was as if the universe conspired to bring us together. After 5 years of traveling in the Philippines it was time for me to go Southeast Asia. She on the other hand just finished teaching English in Korea and is traveling Southeast Asia again. Our travel dates coincided without even us talking before hand. One day I found myself chatting with her asking of her travel plans for November. I found out that she will be in Myanmar on the dates I will be out of the country. At first she just want to leave the memory to that one epic night in El Nido but still decided to meet me in Myanmar so we can travel together. I came without any expectation. I knew that I was attracted to her and that traveling with her would be an awesome thing to do. I can save on expenses and get to share the travel experience. We met in Mandalay then to Bagan and finished in Yangon.

Waiting for sunset at Old Bagan with our new friends

It was awkward when I first saw her in the hotel room. We hugged and just went with wherever fate would lead us. It brought our feet to sunrises and sunsets, we chase them like crazy and enjoyed everything in between. Our conversations were deep and I observed that we got comfortable with each other easily. We had fun, so much fun and made the most of our time together.

Our restless feet chased sunrises and sunsets together…

Watching sunset at Irrawaddy River, Mandalay after biking around the city and playing sepak takraw with Buddhist monks

Our hearts became closer and closer as my days in Myanmar began to end. Bagan was special since there we knew that we are beginning to like each other, we are into each other. We started falling in love with each other. The Myanmar family that we met helped us and made us get closer into each other. Their kids really love to see us being sweet- holding hands, hugging, looking into each others eyes, pecking.

With matching “longyi” skirts, the traditional clothing of Myanmar people

As much as we don’t want to say good-bye to each other, we have to do the goodbye kiss and hope that it was just a temporary goodbye. A kiss signifying a promise that we will see each other again… How soon? I don’t know.

15 days later in Bali…

In Love in Bali

I knew I had to pursue this feeling because if I’m not I will forever regret it. I can’t believe I bought a ticket to Bali. So we met again in the island of the gods. I don’t do this often but I knew when I really love somebody. I was hoping for an opportune time in a romantic setting to say the words that I cherished so much. But saying “I love you” can’t wait for a romantic place so in the middle of the night when we were about to sleep I said “I love you” not expecting her to say the same. But she did, she said, “I love you too.” I don’t know what date exactly but we hugged and we kissed that night. It was one of the memorable nights of my life. No romantic candle-lit dinner or flowers or lovey-dovey ambiance. Just me and her in bed exchanging the words that will carry us in our entire relationship as partners.

Our first “formal” dinner date at KAFE, Ubud, Bali

I believe that spoken words are powerful and every day we meet a new challenge to prove that love to each other. Every single day we take a challenge bigger than the previous one, each day a new question is answered and in just three weeks of being together we have succeeded every possible obstacle in our relationship. We were like couples on a honeymoon in Bali.

Our restless feet getting pampered with rose petal bath in hot water…

For the very first time I was contended with one woman. For the very first time I said to myself to stop flings and flirting with other women and became faithful to one. Yes, I fell in love in Bali. I fell in love with Callie and I am happy to start writing this new chapter of my life with her. I thank God for bringing Callie into my life.

James, your post makes me cry. But I feel the love you have for her. I can feel you falling in love with her every moment you spend time with her. And I am very ‘kilig’ when I read the part when you exchanged I Love Yous to each other.

May you two continue to be blessed. Love on the road is definitely awesome!